In the blink of an eye, Ahmed's home and his shop were bombed into rubble. Now he is struggling to provide for his family. Oxfam and partners have been distributing emergency food vouchers to 50,000 families like Ahmad's.

Looking for something a little different this festive season? Oxfam Unwrapped is a chance for you to share with your family, friends or loved ones the gift of making a real difference to someone's life. Give a gift that truly gives twice!

Nearly 4 million people remain in urgent need in South Sudan following the conflict that broke out in December 2013. Over 1.9 million people have fled their homes and are displaced within the country and over 467,000 have fled to neighboring countries. We have reached more than 360,000 people with life saving essentials, but we urgently need to reach more.

Four years after the beginning of the conflict in Syria the war shows no sign of abating. Massive numbers of people have fled conflict areas and are now living in inadequate shelter within Syria or in neighboring countries.

You are here

Millions of Pakistanis struggle to survive as floods crisis continues

Published:

16 February 2012

Communities hit by the floods are enduring an exceptionally tough time and the lukewarm response to the crisis isn’t helping.

Neva Khan

Oxfam’s Country Director in Pakistan

Six months after floods devastated Sindh and parts of Balochistan province, millions of Pakistanis still need help to survive, international and national aid agencies warned today. The coalition of agencies also said that a lackluster response from the international funders is seriously threatening flood hit communities' chances of coping with the next monsoon season and called on the Pakistani government to boost its efforts to limit the impact of future disasters.

“Communities hit by the floods are enduring an exceptionally tough time and the lukewarm response to the crisis isn’t helping. With funds drying up, millions will find it extremely hard to make it through the next few months. Donors and the government of Pakistan must step up their response immediately,” said Neva Khan, Oxfam’s Country Director in Pakistan.

Needs “still enormous”

In a report titled “Pakistan floods emergency – Lessons from a continuing disaster,” the agencies said that the combined efforts of Pakistani officials, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, Pakistani citizens and affected communities themselves had saved thousands of lives and provided vital assistance to millions of people.

However, at least 2.5 million people are still living without basics such as food, water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare which has put them at serious risk of malnutrition, disease and deepening poverty, said the agencies, which include Oxfam, Save the Children, Care International, Concern Worldwide, Plan International, Action Aid, Islamic Relief and International Rescue Committee.

“The needs of the communities affected by the floods are still enormous with women, children, the elderly and disabled particularly vulnerable. The humanitarian community should continue to provide assistance so that flood affected families not only meet their basic needs but can rebuild their lives,” said Áine Fay, Country Director for Concern Worldwide and Chair for Pakistan Humanitarian Forum.

UN appeal still less than half funded

The agencies said that long term support is needed to ensure recovery of the affected communities. “People are still at risk with tens of thousands still displaced in the flood affected areas while many have returned home to little or nothing. Communities must be strengthened and further funding is needed to assist them to restore their livelihoods and rebuild their lives,” said Lynn Hastings, Head of Office forOCHA Pakistan.

“Six months on, the crisis seems to have been forgotten by the international community,” said Naseer Memon, Chief Executive of Strengthening Participatory Organisation. The Floods 2011 Rapid Response Plan launched by the UN on 18 September sought $357 million but remains less than 50 percent funded. A few donors, notably the European Commission and the US, have responded generously but the response from many others has been disappointing.

An estimated 43 percent of affected people are severely short of food. The agencies fear that this will increase malnutrition levels, which were already well above the emergency threshold in Sindh and Balochistan before the floods struck.

Floods have devastated local agriculture

“Rates of malnutrition among women and children in the flood affected districts continue to be at alarming levels. The floods have exposed and deepened a food crisis in Sindh that has resulted in malnutrition rates far worse than those in Sub-Saharan Africa," said David Wright, Country Director for Save the Children.

The floods have devastated local agriculture and hundreds of thousands of farmers are struggling to recover. One in four farmers missed the last planting season in November–December, either because their land was still submerged or they did not receive help in time. The April farming season is likely to be missed by many farmers too unless immediate action is taken to rehabilitate the fields and distribute seeds and tools required for farming. The agencies warned that the next disaster may be just a few months away and called on the government to intensify efforts to limit the impact of future disasters.

“Each flood, drought and earthquake that Pakistan suffers pushes people even deeper into poverty and destitution. Pakistan must immediately strengthen its ability to deal with future disasters or the gains made though developments efforts would be lost year after year,” said Dr Fayaz Ahmad, Country Director for Islamic Relief Pakistan.

National NGOs: Research and Development Foundation, Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers Coordinating Organization, Strengthening Participatory Organisation, Participatory Development Initiative, Pakistani Fisher-folk Forum, Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme and Thardeep Rural Development Program

Oxfam International Survey

Please help us to improve the Oxfam website! This short survey should take just a few minutes to complete. You can opt to make your responses anonymous. The survey will close on 13 March 2015 at 5 pm GMT. We'll pick one respondent at random to receive a $35 Good Books gift voucher by 31 March 2015. We value your feedback.